Safety-lock for breech-blocks.



No. 879,652. PATENTBD PEB. 18, 1908. J. J. KNAPP.

SAFETY LOCK FOR BREEUH BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.16. 1907.

2 SHBBTS4SHEET 1,

ww w l PATENTED FEB. 18, 1908.

IMT. KNAPP.

SAFETY LOCK POR BREBGH BLOCKS.

( AIfPLIGATIoN FILED'ooT-1s, 1,907.

2 SHBETSkSHEBT 2.

l JOHN i. KNAPP, onwAsHINeToN; DISTRICT oFoo'LnirBiA.

SAFETY-LOCK FOR BRECH-B LOCKS.

To all whom it lmay concerar,

. Be it known that LfJoHN J. KNAPP, (com i mander ,U. S. N.,)alcitizenof the United i the following to be a full,

States, residing at l/Vashington, in the District of Columbia, haveinvented certainnew and useful Improvements in Safety-Locks forBreech-Blocksg and I do hereby declare clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to means Jfor preventing accidents aboard shi),due to what is known as flare backs, or the the breech of the gun, 1n anignited condition,

of the gaseous products or other residue remaining in the gun after adischarge. It is well known that horrible accidents occur from theseflare backs,vand that the cause of the same isnot well understood.

Heretofore it has been customary to use in.

the navy of the United States, a device adapted to force out of the gunall the products of combustion, and other residue left therein after adischarge has taken place, substantially such as is shown in Patent No.783,050 granted February 21, 1905, jointly to myself and to G. W. Dunn.But at least one accident of the above nature has occurred with a gunwhich wasprovided with this device, and it is very probable, if notcertain, that the failure of such device to prevent said flare back wasdue to the fact that no air pressure, or an air pressure too small forthe purpose, was in use at the time. rl`hat vis to say, it ispractically certain that either the air compressor was not connectedwith the air pipes, or else that the pressure in the pipes was notsullcient to clear the gun of all dangerous elements before the breechwas opened. v

Itis the object of my present invention, to provide a means whereby itwill be impossi ble to open the vbreeclr of a gun, provided with the`device shown in the above patent,

l unless a `sullicient pressure vis in the air pipes, i `to electuallyclear .the gun of all combustible gases and other yproducts orymaterial, which would vbe liablel to i nitey anew powder about to be "pacedin the gun.

To these ends my invention consists ina means attached Ito the breechvofthe gun, co-

"acting with another meansattachedwto the breech block in sucl. `a wayas to etl'ectpally lockthe saine, and provided with additional.

Specification of Letters Patent.`` Applica-mn met umher 16. 1907. seanNo, 3,971,756

escape from Water, or

locked, all as clearly set forth patent l, charge of I Patented Feb.18,1908.

means adapted tobeoiperated by the air -pressurein the pipe, to unlockthe breech Y,

block,and keep `it unlocked whenever there is sutlicient pressure in theair pipes to clear the bore of the gun.

My invention further consists in the novel combination of p arts morefully hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspecification z-Figure 1, represents an elevational rear view of thebreech of a' gun provided with my improvement. Fig. 2, an elevationalside view of my improved lock. Fig. 3, a rear elevational` view of mylock on an enlarged scale, and, Fig. 4, a sectional view of the saine.Fig. 5, is a sectionall view showing the mechanism of the interiorvstructure of the valve.

Like -letters'refer to like parts in all the views.

A, indicates the breech portion 'of any type of gun, on which't isdesired to place my invention. B, vthe breech block thereof, and C, themain air pipe adapted to carry air, or both, to the bore of the un asfully disclosed in the prior patent a ove 'mentioned; D, the valvemechanism controlling the admission of air and water into said bore; andE, 4a connection to onel of the nozzles, whichconveys the air, or water,or both, to the interior ofthe gun.

F, indicates a projection connected with the valve mechanism,

the breech block of the gun when the latter is rotated, and to 'therebyturn on the air, or water, or both, which isl contained in the tube, C,whenever the breech block is unin my former above.

AOn the breech block, B, l fasten in any suitable manner the small lugor projection, H, and provide the same. with a slot or cayity adapted toreceive the locking bolt or pinnger, J, of ,a spring vcontrolled piston,K, con- L, provided withf/the D, and adapted to be operated by theprojection, G, connected to Spring; .Myfwliich in tum is Controlla@ by,the

setfscrew,UN.,`IL The plunger, J, is A,provided with ,a,slo,t, Q, nearits lowerend, and passes through the screwplug, P, lin they lower end ofthe cylinderL,land is surrounded. bythe packing ring,2Qprovided' withth'effbearingA screws, R, and said plunger is also securedl to theinverte i cup shaped piston, K, by means provided with my lockingrinsullicieni to hold the that piston raised against the tension ol" theoperated so longr es of e screw, S, passing through the washer, T, l asshown. The bore of the cylinder, L, is enlarged :it its extreme lowerend to receive the screw l threads for the plug P, and, also, to forni ul shoulder i'orthe pecking ring, Q, through which the seid plunger, J,passes cir tight. The said cylinder', L, is also prefernbl y screwthreaded et its top to receive the closinf?r cap, U, throu'gh which theregulatingr screw, N, passes.A Cest integrally with said cylinder, orotherwise securely' fastened thereto, is the bracket, V, through Iwhichpass the bolts, W, and to one of these bolts is fastened the suport, X,carrying the lever, Y, es shown. gcid cylinder is also provided with enorifice, A', preferably screw threaded in to which lits one end ofthepipe B, the other end of which is connected to the vulve mechanisn'z, D,or to the pipe, C, as desired. Seid pipe, B', enters the cylinder, L, onthat side ol' the piston, 1Q opposite to the spring, M, :nid the uidentering seid cylinder through scid pipe tends to forceseid piston, K,upward against the tension of said'spring, M, l'Vhenever the force ofseid fluid is'suliicient to overcoine the tension of seid spring, M, theplunger, J, is raised out of the slot in the lug, ll', :ind the breechblock may be readily unlocked. But whenever the pressure in said pipe isinsullig cient to overcome the tension ol said spring, M, then it isimpossible to reise the seid plunser, J, except by means of the luuidlever, Y. .lihis hand lever is pivoted et C', shown in the su port,'X,and its end, D', enters the slot, in the plunger, J. 'l`hereiorc, bypressing on the other end of seid lever, the seme may he swunr on itspivot und the plunger operated by iand, il desired.

e o eration of my invention is es fol lows hen the gun is fired, thebreech block B, is rotated by the usuel mechanism, and turns on thefluid in pipe, C, by ineens of the lug, G, contacting with theprojection, F, attached to the valve mechanism, l), in the mannerdisclosed in my former putent vabove, and now well known to thoseskilledv in the art. The pressure in the pipe, C, is also, et alltimes;communicated through the pipe, Bto the piston K, und therefore,keeps s ring, M, end consequently holds the punger, J, out ol" locking;rcontact vl/ith the ug, l'I, on the breech block. Owing to the pressurekeeping.,lr the said plunger, J, rinsed :it

-all times, the opening;r ol the breech is not retarded in the leest,und the gun muy 4be the pressure is suliicicn't l to nntintiiin theplunging-J, out ol' locking' i position, precisely the sumo :is il itwere not ,l device. But ns I pipe, (l, boconns g plunger, J, out ol'ilocking; osition, ilu' spring, M, l'orccs the l plunger flown inl'.unmet with the lug, il, l

soon :is the pressure in the ermee on the breech block, end therebyciicctunlly locks the bloclcend prevents the breechlronl being oper id.

ln prectiriee the sp1-insg, irl, is so tcnsioned, by ineens ol` thescrew, N, the-t the plunger, J, cunnot be liited by seid pressure,unless the seid pressure is sullicient to thoroughly ulcer the gun o1'y:ill d engerous materiel when the vulve inechenism, D, is oneretcd. lnother words, the screw, N, l M, ere so adjusted that should the compresser fail to opcreti'e, onehould. the pipe, C, or tiny ol' itsconnections be shot ewey or injured, thc breech block cannot be unlockedfind, therelore, no lhtre bucks could occur. li', however, it is desiredto open the breech bloeit, et any time whntever it mcy be readilyunlocked by operatingr the lever, Y, es .shove started.

Oi' course, .l do not limit myself to the precise consLruetion :ind modeol operation nbdve outlined, for it is evident that the sinne muy bcwidely varied witluuit depertingr from the'` spiri t ci my invention.

l'llhet l chum is 'Y l. ln sy ,grun-protided. with :i breech block, theimmbinntion oi ineens to edrnit iluid under pressure to the bore ol"sind gun, with ineens edizptcd. to antoine.ticlilly lock seid bloclcWhenever the pressure ui' seid fluid reiuvhes :i predeterminrd point,substantially us described.

ln u, gun provided with .fr breech block, the combination ol: ineensiidupted to edmit fluid under pressure to the bore of' seid gun, meliuson seid block for colitrolliiu; the .llow il lluid, und ineens for:Lutomuticfilly 1' sind block, whenever the pressure lo( n ol seid fluidhills to :i predetermined point, substentielly :is described.

f5. .in u` gun provided with e breech block, the combination ol' ineensndnfpted to admit lluid under pressure to the bore oi seid gun, ineenson seid gun for controlling the flow of seid liuid comprising :iprojection on seid block, und e vulve device on the breech of sind gunwith. which seid projection is adept ed to contact, :ind ineens on seidgun adeptcd to nuten]:iticiilly loci( seid block whenever the pressureol snid lluid l'iills to it )redctcrmined point, substcntidlly :isdcscri ed.

Lll. ln :i gun provided with it breech block, the` combiruition ol'ineens to :idinit lluid under prrssurr.- to the bore olE seid gun, withineens udiipted to :Lutonmticelly lock seid block whcnercr the pressureol seid Iluid l'nlls tu o, fir(idctcrmined point, sii-id hist inentionedmenus cdmprising u spring controlled plunger, .subslnnticlly esdescribed.

5. Vln :i gun 'provided with n. breech block, the rombinution 'ol' menusudspted to edmit lluid under pressure to the bore ol' seid gun, :L lui,ron smid block, e springr controlled plunger uduptrd lo engage seid lug,und at r-onnerion bctweim seid lluid prcssin'e :inc the spring,

. block is automatically plunger, Whereby the said locked' whenever themeans, and said .'pressure of said fluid falls to a redeter- Y so lmeansadapte .mined point', the said plunger automatical 'mined point,substantially asdescri ed.

6. In a gun provided with a breech block',

kthe combination of asource of'fluid pressure,

a lug H, lsecured to-said breech block, a plungerJ, adaptedl to enga esaidlug, a spring M, 'ada ted to control said plunger, to control the'tension of said spring, and va pipe B connected to said source of fluidpressure, whereby said plunger J, is automatically disengaged from thesaid lug H, Wheneversaid fluid pressure reaches a predetermined point,Asubstantially `as described.

` 7. 'In a gun provided with a breech block,

the combination of a source of fluid pressure,

' a valve mechanism D, onthe. breech of the unlocksfsaid block,substantially asf described.

8. 'In at-gun provided With abreechfblocl,

the combination of a pipe C, containing flu1d under pressure, a valvemechanism D, ada ted to control'said fluid, a lug G, carried 'yf' thebreech block adapted to control vsaid valve mechanism, a pipe Bconnected tosaid pipe C, a lug Hyalso carried by said breech block, aplunger J ada communicates,

lever Y, pivoted to said support and engagilug H, a cylinder L,

said pIlu'nger J, substantially as described. f 9. n a gun provided witha breech block,

the combination of a pipe, C, containing fluid under pressure, a valvemechanism D, ada tted to engage said' I which said pipe B and a springM,controlling ed to control saidluid,m a lug G, .carried y thebree'chblock adapted to controlsaid valve mechanism, a pipe B connectedto said ipe C, a lug H, also carried by -said breec lock, a plungerJLadapted to engage said lug H ,a cylinder L, with which said ipe x .Bcommunicates, a spring M, contro ing said ,plunger J, a set screw M",'fr regulating the tension of said spring, and means for operating saidlunger by hand,.when de-l sired, substantia ly as described.

10'. Tn a gun provided with a breech block, i

the combination of a pipe C, containing fluid under pressure, a valvemechanism D, ada ted'to control said fluid, a lug G, carried y thebreech block adapted' to Vcontrol said valve mechanism, a pipe Bconnected to' said ipe C, a lu H, also carried by said breec blck, apglunger J, -adapted to engage said lug H, a cylinder said pipe Bcommunicates, a spring trolling said plunger J, a set screw N, forregulating the tension of s aid spring, and means for .o

when desire comprising a support H, and a yas descri e in said plunger,substantia d I affix my signan testimony whereof,

\ ture, in presence of two-Witnesses.

' JOHN` J. KNAPP.v

Witnesses:

' L. C.' BRADY,-

GEo. B. Prrrs.

erating said plunger by hand,v

L, with which M, oo n-

